A billion is bigger than it sounds
Millions and billions sound close, but a billion is a thousand millions. Spending $10,000 every single day, it would take about 274 years to get through $1 billion. At $1,000 a day it would take more than 2,700 years, longer than recorded history in many parts of the world.
And that is without interest. Put a billion dollars in a savings account at 4% and it earns about $110,000 a day, so you could spend $100,000 every day forever and never touch the principal. That is the real reason great fortunes tend to keep growing.
Common questions
How long would it take to spend a billion dollars at $1 million a day?
About 1,000 days, or 2.7 years, without interest.
How much interest does a billion dollars earn per day?
About $110,000 a day at 4% a year.
How long is a billion seconds?
About 31.7 years.
This calculator gives estimates for planning. Real returns, rates and prices change, so treat the result as a guide rather than a promise. Read how we build and check our calculators.